I know I said soon... I have nothing to say for myself except Life... seriously its been real.

I do not have a post topic set up so I will just post a few pics and maybe that will get my brains wheels turning. =)

I planted these lasts Octoberish and actually a flower bloomed in the spring supper proud. I wonder how many bloom this spring.
















We put up cafe lights in the backyard and enjoyed some alfresco nights =)

We enjoyed a wonderful day at the beach. 

 

and I got a Wallandar

Its been a learning process I rescued him with an infection apparently and we are trying to get him better.

Its something to keep my plants alive, and now I have him I love being able to sleep at night and feel safe, cant wait to sleep the whole night when he is better.

These are a few little things I thought I'd share with ya. 

Hope all is well and you are getting your fall on where ever you are.

Love is all that matter

and so this is Christmas

Hi its me,

The Ornament he bought for me

I feel like a bad friend, you know like the one who only calls or texts when their world is tilting the wrong way but wait no that doesn't seem right. I have great news, wonderful news! so I guess I'm like those other friends who only show up to boast and make you feel like your life is in some kind of sludge. Hhm Maybe I am the only one that happens to. 
 So guess what.... Guess guess guesssssss ok I'll tell you. A wedding happened =) isn't that so exciting. One of my best friends  was married this past November. 

Lorena

Life is always surprising me, you think its going one way and then bam out of nowhere comes a curve, this was a good surprise. We said at the beginning of the year 2015 that one of us was going to be married by the end of it (She was the one who said it to be perfectly honest)and I was kinda, actually very is a better word. I was very skeptical and yet hopeful that if it was meant to be for one of us that we wouldn't be wrapped in dense fog of  some past relationship or emotionally not ready. God only knows how many opportunities have passed us due to these valleys we have set up camp in for to long.

 I want to say a tad about her now. Not to praise her but to put into words what a great inspiration she has become to me in the past 6 years or so. I had just moved back to my home town when I was was shopping at a large retail store and I ran into a best friend whom she was with, the three of us just clicked right off. The rest is history as they say. I have seen her happy, sad, scared, in love, not so in love and  I don't know how to tell you this but in the last 3 years she has grown into a confident, emotionally healthy and spiritual woman of God. I am amazed every time we are together how much she has grown. Her and her husband are such a great couple. May they have many many years of happiness to come.

Her and I

November 2015

 

I am always taking pictures of our shoes, I LOVE Shoes!

 Me & My guy

One thing I know for sure is you can ever know what life has for you around the corner but every time a curve pops on your journey just know that whats behind you is old and whats before you is new and if it was made to last it wont stay behind but will stick by your side through every curve and twist that comes your way. 

Ps. it always makes it feel a tad less like its the end of the world when you have wonderful friends. I am truly blessed.

I will be writing again soon I promise. Enjoy your Christmas if I do not speak to you before than. Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you all

Mela

04/13/2015

         

           I am feeling like at any second my tears are going to spill out of my eyes with out warning. My heart has so many questions and my head tells me its impossible to have them answered. I lost one of my Grandmas Monday morning. The grief has take the form of a cement bucket, I have to carry around and I don't want to leave it anywhere because Its mine and your supposed to carry it around right? So I showered with it siting in the tub with me, I was careful not to let it get too wet, I slept with it next to my bed and when I woke up I moved it out of the way so My niece could climb in my bed and say "Don't worry Tia Cece I'm here to save the day Its Super hero Elicity" (I swear She can see the bucket) I hid it with a pillow when my mom came in and said "Get up Lazy Bones as she tickled My super Hero. I carried it around my room as I looked for something to wear and made sure to grab it on my way to my car. I sat it on my passenger seat and rode to work with no music. At work I was unsure if I should get it off and I decided to leave it in the car but as I worked I realized that the tears came even with the bucket in the car. So the bucket had nothing to do with. I was kinda confused for a second as I wiped my tears away hastily at my desk. How was I grieving if I had left my grief in the car. Then it dawned on me it's because it was my heart my heart is sad and I can't leave my heart in the car. Then whats the bucket?!? I guess the bucket is just the feeling that death was just here and took something special to me and I realized as I sat at my desk that I could leave the bucket anywhere I wanted and not feel bad because My heart is all I need. Whether its full of tears or laughter its strong enough for it all and the bucket is just added baggage that I do not need. I decided that I would find a place and drop it off ASAP. No extra baggage for me. So yes the tears can and will spill out at will, and that's fine with me. I always think that tears are my heart cleansing me, my soul and my vision.   

                So about those Questions I have about my grandma Isabel Martinez. I'll go with # 5 on my Rules of Life. #5 Stop thinking too much, its all right not to know the answers. They will come to you when you least expect it. Deep breath and keep going.

 A few pics of what I seen today

Just up from one of her short naps she has been taking

Under that band aid is a tiny little itty bitty dot and that's her owie from falling down =)

She ended up taking it off because it had healed. 

Sisley on the phone

We love the sun!! Did I tell you she bought a house? Don't freak out lol It's a good thing. I promise!

Life is present and so am I. 

Are you?

Enjoy your day and I'll be back I promise.

Luv Mela

My Promise

NYE 2015

Whats a promise? The Merriam Webster's Dictionary says it's a statement telling someone that you will definitely do something or an indication of future success or improvement.

Some give promise rings to tell their significant other that they promise to wait for them and to treat them better then anyone else in the whole wide world.This has been going on for a long time. I believe in it. I find it very romantic.

 We are always promising someone something. Yes I promise to pay you rent every month or yes I will come to work on time when I am scheduled. How about I promise to raise you right and be the best most annoying parent ever! =) The list is endless.

However I have began to see a pattern around the world of another promise. I'm sure in our own ways we have said it for many centuries and maybe due to the presence of social media it seems that its more prevalent.  That promise is We will not live our lives in Fear! Fear of our safety against those who would bring harm to us and our children. This is our sad reality

But with this comes a strength from the bottom of my soul and begins to clear my vision so that I can see my path. I see the little ones in my life and I think what will they have to look forward to if their Tia is stuck their whole life and what type of future will they have if I can not provide what they need as they grow up into the leaders of tomorrow? I see myself and I wonder will I have to keep this extra emotional baggage and for what? It serves me no benefit. Some may say "Well you'll be sure not to have that happen to you again" and to that I say, Then I will not be living. Because to live is to not fear and I choose to Live!

So here's my promise to myself this year.

1. I promise to LIVE  

2. I promise to not look back. 

3. I promise to smile and mean it.

4. I promise to break the cycle and be the woman I was raised to be. 

5. I won't hide

6. I will be healthy

7. I am Not Afraid 

That's what has been on my mind for the past few days. It's a new year and what a better time to just to go for it. What do you say?

Long and Strong Nails

Oregon 

Hello Hello,

I am so excited. Christmas and New years are just around the corner and I have always made these dates markers for making sure a few things on my person are up to par. For instance my Hair (this topic is a whole story in itself) however what I mean is I'll stop using hot tools on it and trim it about 8 weeks before the event and look up ideas on pintrest to be inspired. another thing is my nails and that brings us to today's blog.

So I have to be super honest first and for most. I have always had strong nails. However growing up I never kept them out of my mouth. Biting them not because I was nervous more because it was a habit. All the way until my late teens. It went fairly well I always had Hard as nails by Sally Hansen in stock lol. I played the Piano so having a broken nail here and there was fact of life. Once I was old enough to know what fake nails where I would get discouraged if one broke before an event and I would go and get all of them done to look as natural as possible. (I'm a naturalist living in the real world lol) and that's where my nails began to go down the drain. Because after I get them done and the fake nails have come off, my natural nails are so brittle and thin that they split and break so easy. and it takes a good 2 months to grow them back out strong.  I was able to get them back for about 2 years and then I have no idea what happened but probably like 7 months ago they turned into these brittle thin things on the tips of my fingers.  I was desperate I had a important trip coming up so I.. You guessed it I got them done and it was so nice to have them all done the same even though I knew what was coming up 2 weeks later. That's about how long they last me. I had to stop and ask myself what was really going on? I am of a certain age now and I really hadn't changed my diet. So I began to do research and also I remembered what girlfriends have done and what worked for them. One of the things I started doing that I really never have done is take vitamins. You can talk with your doctor about what works for you. I take a Vitamin that has Calcium, Biotin and Iron in it. I also started scrubbing my hands and nails once a week with the Satin hands from Mary Kay. It gives me a moment to pamper myself and it smells really good, yes I use the fragrance free go figure. The last thing I have started to do is apply Nail envy by O.P.I $17.50 at a Spa/Salon close by. I have some before and after pics for you. I have been taking the vitamins for about 3 months and I drink water everyday. I am really doing my best to give my body what its lacking. It's not a secret either my body is giving me clear signs unfortunately. So I hope to have them Long and Strong for the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015!!

Before Pictures taken 11/14/2014

Right Hand 

Left hand. Really bad.

The Instructions say 2 Coats then every other day another re apply and then weekly remove. My head is telling me well if your applying this stuff your not going to bite them so of course they will grow. I say back to my head "well maybe they will be thick like when I was a youngster" lol. 

Taken 12/08/2014 

Right hand

Left Hand

So far they are looking great. I will keep them short until all of them or the same length then I'll let them grow out some. Its been about 3 and 1/2 weeks not bad. 

Sometimes the easiest way to get out of a rut is to get some new product or remedy that will help and set a goal. Take pictures or share your goals with someone. Then you'll feel so good when you can keep them updated to your progress.

Gratitude 2014

Sammy made the Banner and Elise is posing and Smiling

 I have so many reasons to be Thankful.

I won't make this a "tissue needed read" lol. I will say one of the things I am Thankful for is TIME.

Why Time? You ask, well Time has a way of  Helping us get through, overcome, grow, and heal.

This was my favorite Thanksgiving of all times. Even the turkey needed more Time, (hahaha) my sister probably won't like that I said that. Love you little Sisley, but oh how juicy and tasty that turkey was. My little sisley made it and she did a superb job as always. She has a way of pulling out the best taste in food and bake goods when she puts her mind to it. We came together on Saturday and there was plenty of Turkey =)

Mashed potatoes and love to go around.

We Played phase10 laughed and made memories.

How was your thanksgiving?

Mi Amor and Mills

I hope yours was warm and full of wonderful times. God Bless. Till next time 
Mela

Soap Dish Project

A State park in Oregon

Happy November Lovely's

Today I am very proud of myself, Why? you ask, well let me tell you. I finally have the pictures for the Soap dish project. I am by no means a professional so please forgive any eyesores or classic amateur mistakes I made =) I'm just proud I got it done and I can move on to the next project now.


 I went to a few stores Ikea, Ross, and some thrift stores in search of a soap dish that would compliment my style and be what I wanted. I also looked on line at Jcpenny, Anthropologie and Kohls. I did buy the one from Ikea and its cute I'll use it some day in the future. Here he is

Then on a weekend my mother, my sister and I went to another Thrift store and I was in the clothing section when sitting on the basket in between wallets and Sombreros was this perfect Soap dish. I was so excited I grabbed it and went searching for my mom. I told her the only worry I had was it didn't drain and she said oh you know how to fix that? I responded that NO in fact I did not know. and She told me. Put a ring from an old shower curtain in the dish. Then the dish doesn't touch the soap creating a drain of sorts and the soap bar won't get soggy =)

Isn't he gorgeous?

There's the shower ring 

Place it in the dish

Then place your soap on top and Wala

Well That was fun. I am sure I'll pull it out when I have company. I'm nervous on of the Monkeys that climb in my bed at night might give it the tiniest push  and for it to fall off that iity bitty counter space. Oh and I paid 99 Cents for the glass soap dish

 My next project is going to be painting a big shelve my Brother in-law gave me. I will share a few pinspirations next post. I hope where ever you are you are enjoying the weather. Staying Happy and almost ready for Family, Food and Making memories. Thank you for reading.

God Bless

Mela

Someday's you just need the warmth of the sun.  

I hope everyone is having a nice time while the weather transitions to Fall. Both my nieces and my eldest Sister have full blown allergies and we are trying to keep them under control. Today is Dress up day. Aka some other name. Everyone at the office is dressed up cept me lol. One side of the office did the whole Alice and wonder land theme. Someone dressed up as a giants fan lol. There was a Caterpillar (he used a sleeping bag) a flamingo as well as Chaquita Banana and a escaped convict. Whatever  you do today be safe and dry. Tonight is a storm for us here.

Should be a fun night to cuddle up with the girls and watch a show.

maybe light the fireplace...

Fall is here, and I am very excited.Time for Reading &  Hot Cinnamon Tea time. I love crunching the leaves while on the phone on my breaks out side of the office. Its been cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoons. Time to bring out the Sweaters and boots. I am trying to hold off to be honest. The other night I stayed up way past my bed time to clean and reorganize my room. Since then  I have a couple of projects that I have move'd to the top of my forever growing to do lists. Nothing to over whelming just some things I need to get at some point and there's no time like the present right?

First : Over the past year or so I have collected about 5+ bars of soap. They all smell so wonderful. Some, actually they all were gifts so I have the need of a Soap dish. I am very particular I need it to be dainty and feminine yet also capable of draining the excess water as I can not stand mushy bars of soup. So I took to Pinterest and a few of my trusty spots on the Web and here are few I found. They might be worth the trip.

This is Ikea's $3.99

Found on Remodelista for $14.99

lady-gray-dreams This one would be a find indeed

I will probably go with the first one. I'll try and post some before and after pictures. 

Love checking things off the list. Maybe you know where to find A Non-Soggy-Soap-Dish

let me know. 

Oh and Just in case you don't have any soaps on hand here is a Favorite blog of mine that put up a DIY brit.co

Brit.co DYI Soaps

I'll be posting some more of my to do lists and the finished projects in the next few. Lovely chatting. 

Talk to you soon XOXO

Not lost

Have you ever had that moment where you have to stop and look around wide eyed and realize you don't recognize anything about yourself? How your thinking? how your talking? how your reacting? Such a moment happened to me yesterday. I am not in a bad place I'm in a great place however there are things that can be better, way better. So I had like 10 minutes to ask myself  "How can I fix this"? I didn't have to ask, what I want? Or where do I see myself in 5 years? All that is clear in my head. I just needed to re-calibrate and it was a HUGE shock to me. So here's to getting back to me =) I hope where ever you are in life you can stay yourself. No easy task as I know that first hand. However Its very important very. You must know who you are first and that's something that comes early in life for most of us. I don't know that it's the same process for every one. The only advice I can give would be to follow your instincts and trust yourself to know the way and breathe just Breathe. Life is happening and we need to be in top form. A lot comes at us and sometimes we let it beat us down. That is what got me. I forgot that when stuff happens I need to sharpen my amazing-ness lol and not give up or in. To realize  

that this is a moment where I can SHINE and be the inspiration to others that I had. 

Lets go Cee

Time for Vacation!

Hello lovelys,
       How are you today? Its fall!! Windy outside and so many burning red colors. I am having a mad love affair with boots =) and I already started listening to my Christmas station (Since the end of September to be precise) I told someone and they said that's gross. Haha I was mildly offended,
      So here's the deal. In a few days I'm headed out of the country. Not to far but far enough for there to be a climate change. Lots of sun and heat. So I have been on this hunt to find what I can wear out there besides the bathing suit while laying out. I'm pretty modest dresser. (Is that a word? Dresser?) and I need to find a way to stay me but not be burning up or get horrible tan lines. I have been to many stores looking and trying to get my head wrap around what I want to do and what I can find in time for the trip.
So here's some things I found out.

1. Covering up is an option
2.Colors are a must for during the day, the brighter the better
3. Light fabrics only

That should be common sense right, However I have not really done the south America vacation. New York yup, Denver sure, Oregon Loved it! but not the place where you can amp up your tan and relax all day. I can't wait!! So I had to think about it and that's what I came up with. I may be wrong so there will be a follow up post along with some pics. Hopefully.

Now I have to get my head back to work. I can't believe 30 is right around the corner for me and my Prima. We don't even look it nor do we feel it. I mean there are times when Im around a 20 something year old and there going on and on about this guy and then that guy. "Do you like my hair? Cee you look so nice, Oh My GAWD did you go to the Ellie Golding Concert? (Yes I did), I love her I want her hair, What do you think?" Haha I always feel my age at those times. Its not like I don't think stuff like that Its just not that important to actually say it out loud. I'm to busy making sure no more grays show up =(  I have 3!!

The nieces are growing so fast. I can't keep up. The 4 year old, Yes 4 years old is a walking little boss. "Tia wake up its time". I'm looking at the clock and its reading 6:45am. How does she do it? "Can I wear your shoes today, They will go great with my dress". I say Baby your wearing your pjs. "I know, but it's a dress too!" She has this thing that she has to where a dress to bed over her pj's. So we have these tops that connect to a too-too material and she wears those over her pj's every night. It's a nightmare if there's no clean ones. Then there's the 2 year old one she just discovered that your supposed to pose when taking a picture not just say cheeeeese burger. Of course most of her pictures are taken as she says burgeeeer.

She is always sleeping!!

Getting ready for fall

Hello there,
Wherever you are. This is my post with another of me and my sisters DIY for Fall 2013 she and I make a great team. I get Ideas and she is the artist =) I'll say yea that's cute, can we make it gold somehow? She will say "we do have spray paint left over from the shelves in you room". and wallaa its done.

So here's something we did together for the front of the casa.

                                                                                                         

Enjoy! any questions let me know.

All Done. Happy Fall Everyone!!
Ps My Grams gave me the plant =)

Eleventh

So today is a great day to write... The sprinkler is on in the front, my sister is giving the girls her undivided attention. Every now and then the littlest one comes to me to hit me and then run away.  I think she just shows her love in different forms then the norm ha. I am so excited its summer. We have a heat wave warning here in northern California. So that means lots of water and no hot tea at work. Parking in the shade only. Light Colors and Smiles Lots of Smiles

First off we had our, hold on my niece #2 has come to tell me she got pow pow from momma, Hhm. I will have to think about that. Anyways back to getting you up to date.  We had our first annual picnic the other Saturday and it was a total success, many people showed up and we had a great volleyball game, there was plenty of food Whew  drinks and laughter. This was a fiesta put on by Amiga's. My moms my big & lil sis even showed up. We had a great time. I hope that this will become a tradition and that we will bring our future husbands and families in the years to come. That makes me sad for some reason. I'll need to think about that as well
Secondly I have NOT been to the gym for ... let me think. Well I'll just say a long while. (No need to embarrass myself more then necessary). I just asked my mom today if she will go with mua in the AM to the local park to jog/walk and she said yes. So I am starting tomorrow and I will be on from now on. That makes me happy. (Sheesh I'm a rollercoster of emotions today lol) The other day I was up early and I smelt the smell that I so love. It was the smell of crisp cool air along with a hint of fire smoke. That made me just want to go out and buy new boots or maybe these beauties you can find them here http://www.zara.com

My boots lol

So know that I am all side tracked.

Thirdly I have a thought about how important role models are in our lives, no matter your age. I think that this could be a good topic and I would love to just type away. However I'll just tell you that my practical niece LOVES her Mommy and she wants to be just like her someday. This picture should explain. My moms and my sisters where at www.pfchangs.com having some amazing Chinese food. While we were talking the girls colored and then we looked over at Niece #1 and she was humming to herself folding up the coler sheet. I think our first reaction was to immediately fix the situation but we took a second to long and She looked at us and smiled and asked, "Do you like them"? Our eyes where large and someone asked "what do mean?" to which she replied "my earrings silly, they are like mommy's" the LOVE

 Have a Wonderful weekend, God Bless and I hope you stay cool wherever you are.
Mela